Engineered methods and materials for wellbore strengthening in subterranean operations

Abstract

A method of wellbore strengthening may include providing a wellbore strengthening fluid comprising a drilling fluid, a particulate, and a fiber; introducing the wellbore strengthening fluid into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation; and forming a plug comprising the particulate and the fiber in a void near the wellbore, the plug being capable of maintaining integrity at about 1000 psi or greater overbalance pressure.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of wellbore strengthening, the method comprising:
 providing a wellbore strengthening fluid comprising a drilling fluid, a particulate, and a fiber, wherein the fiber has an aspect ratio of greater than about 5 and a length of about 2500 microns to about 6000 microns; 
 introducing the wellbore strengthening fluid into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation; and 
 forming a plug comprising the particulate and the fiber in a void near the wellbore, the plug being capable of maintaining integrity at about 1000 psi or greater overbalance pressure. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fiber has an aspect ratio of greater than about 25. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fiber is present in the wellbore strengthening fluid in an amount ranging from about 0.1 to about 10 pounds per barrel of drilling fluid. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the drilling fluid comprises a fluid selected from the group consisting of an aqueous-based fluid, an oil-based fluid, an oil-in-water emulsion, and a water-in-oil emulsion. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wellbore strengthening fluid further comprises an additive selected from the group consisting of a salt, a weighting agent, an inert solid, a fluid loss control agent, an emulsifier, a dispersion aid, a corrosion inhibitor, an emulsion thinner, an emulsion thickener, a viscosifying agent, a high-pressure high-temperature emulsifier-filtration control agent, a surfactant, a particulate, a proppant, a lost circulation material, a foaming agent, a gas, a pH control additive, a breaker, a biocide, a crosslinker, a stabilizer, a chelating agent, a scale inhibitor, a mutual solvent, an oxidizer, a reducer, a friction reducer, a clay stabilizing agent, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the drilling fluid comprises an oleaginous continuous phase and a polar organic molecule. 
     
     
       7. A method of wellbore strengthening, the method comprising:
 providing a wellbore strengthening fluid comprising a drilling fluid, a particulate, and a fiber, wherein the drilling fluid comprises an oleaginous continuous phase and a polar organic molecule;
 and wherein the fiber has a length of about 2500 microns to about 6000 microns; 
 
 introducing the wellbore strengthening fluid into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation; and 
 forming a plug comprising the particulate and the fiber in a void near the wellbore, the plug being capable of maintaining integrity at about 1000 psi or greater overbalance pressure.